Large multinational software companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google, rarely - if ever - initiate patent infringement lawsuits against other software companies, probably because they themselves infringe on lots of patents too. However, they do get sued themselves by smaller companies. Even though the Christian part of the world is all about forgiveness and love and pink ponies during the holidays (or, at least, they ought to be), Apple, Google, and Microsoft have been struck by a patent infringement lawsuit started by Cygnus Systems.

Indeed. Part of the quoted patent seems to describe the "thumbs.db" file used in Windows operating systems from well before 2001 to store thumbnail data. I'm not normally one to be on Microsoft's side, but Ballmer and Co. should be able to crush these trolls like the roaches they are just with that little bit of prior art.

*Cringes*
Man... I *HATED* those files... one of the first "features" I disabled on every fresh install of XP, before Windows had a chance to populate any folder I just *viewed* with that junk. That thumbs.db file is about as viral as you can get. :|

Anyway... hopefully this patent troll loses and doesn't get a damn thing.

Man... I *HATED* those files...
...
Anyway... hopefully this patent troll loses and doesn't get a damn thing.

We all hate thumbnailers, dear. Take solace in the fact that even if he wins, he'll never be able to enjoy the money. Too many of us thumbnail haters will show up at his door to rip his face off first. ;-)